Heme/Onc Fellowship Application Thread

[puju]

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Hi G,

Thanks a lot for your input!. As you rightly said, it depends on the individual and their personal goals. At this point I am inclined towards heme, although nothing is set in stone. I was just wondering about your statement that UCLA and UCSF are better pgms c.f Stanford (with the given exceptions you mentioned). So, do you think UCLA still is considered a better pgm overall than stanford, and if so what makes it so?.
Also, I am thinking more of translational research (lab based). Which of the prgms mentioned do you think would support my career goals (heme based translational research).
Again, thanks a million for your input, and wish you the very best for the match. By the way, what is your top prgm (I guess Penn).

 

[Invicta1]

I just want to make sure that as long as my NRMP account has "CERTIFIED ROL" in green in the top right, there's nothing more I have to do before it's submitted right?

 

[spyrogyra1]

Kiss the screen after you certify the friggin list!

 

[desertrose]

GermanIMG,

Since you know so much about all these programs, can you also give me some advice about 4 programs: yale, BIDMC, cornell and NYU? Thanks for your time. I am running very late.

If indeed you have interviewed at these places you should have an idea about the differences and probably also an idea about your interests, which ultimatly would reflect your ranking.
In general, for fellowship even more so then for residency, rankings don't really make sense, as it is more about your individual goals....
Factors that may influence your ranking are:
1.hematology vs oncology vs double boad
specially at some of the stronger programs there is a puch for single board. MSKCC for example makes ot rather hard to double board. others are stronger in heme then on onc or vice versa

2. clinical vs basic research
MDAnderson for example is a great place for clinical research, but not that great for basic research

3. practise vs academics
Fox Chase is a great clinical training program but not academic
Dana Farber is maybe the best research program, but not that great of a clinical training program

4. specific research interests
different institutions may have an edge in certain fields over others. (i will elaborate on that)

5. location or any other factors (family etc...)

now to your programs...i can not comment on Vanderbilt or Mayo
Stanford
small program, clinical focus malignant heme and BMT..if these are your interest great place, otherwise there are better ones in Cali (UCLA or UCSF)

Yale
they try to revamp their training progra..at this moment not a top program( not even close), but double board with integrated training. research opportunities multiple at Yale university, no mentoring, quality of fellows sub-par, but academic institution, thus academic opportunities..probably not even a top 20 program

Fred Hutch

top program,. excellent in malignant heme and BMT( pretty much world class)
small class, world class research opportunities, great atmosphere
top 5-6 program, depending upon your interest probably even higher

Penn
top 4 at east coast, a tit below the top 3, but way above the rest
inegrated heme and onc( excellent heme), excellent basic research (top 3) clinically smaller. not that great in oncology with exceptions are GI, melanoma and breast)(head&neck does not really exist for example), fellows solely from top residencies (I guess it is the ivy league bias)
excellent BMT, but again small, expanding massively, which could go either way ( labor pain, vs post-fellowship opportunities), very friendly and supportive (disclaimer: for my own personal reason my #1)

U MIchigan
excellent clinical program, great research opportunities, good number of Pts, but suffers tremendously from location...does not get top candidates, however, PD extremely involved and motivated

 

[BMT]

Hey Guys, Thanks again for all your support. Now with the ROL over, its two weeks of freedom. I think this forum was the best. GermanIMG, Chemoman, ursus, HDMTX and all the others - you all were terrific. It was all you guys who made this interview season more informative and interactive. Hope we all match on 6/21. 🙂 BMT

 

[HDMTX]

Hey Guys, Thanks again for all your support. Now with the ROL over, its two weeks of freedom. I think this forum was the best. GermanIMG, Chemoman, ursus, HDMTX and all the others - you all were terrific. It was all you guys who made this interview season more informative and interactive. Hope we all match on 6/21. 🙂 BMT

Best of luck to all. Nice note BMT. Couldn't agree more. 🙂

 

[chemo-man]

Hello everybody,

Done with all the tossing and turning around! (atleast for now🙂. I agree with others that this has been a terrrific site and you guys all have been wonderful throughout. Please let us keep in touch over the next coming days and weeks...who knows we may be working together:-O
GL to everyone...

 

[BMT]

Hey guys 5 days to go...... Im in ICU this month and its worse waiting for the Match result than waiting for the pager to go off for a codeblue.....BMT

 

[signomi]

Tell me about it! I have narrowed all my job offers down to two. One is here in the city for $62,000 less but it makes sense to take it for a year if I match here. The other is in a distant small town for more money. It makes sense to take that one if I don't match. (I only applied to one program.) So here I sit without a job until the match.

 

[chemo-man]

Hi everybody,

Good luck to everybody for the big day!! Let us keep posting...and hope that will be tomorrow with good news 🙂

 

[swinske]

Hi everybody,

Good luck to everybody for the big day!! Let us keep posting...and hope that will be tomorrow with good news 🙂

Only 4 hours left, couldnt sleep all night......... 😱 Thanks to everyone for sharing the info all thru the way. It gave the feeling that I am not alone in this race. There are so many out there. Plz do share experience if you donot match. Last yr when I did not match I realize that there are so many people out there. It gave me some n peace of mind............... Anyway Good Luck Inshallah I will have great news

 

[signomi]

I actually got up and went to church. Now that's desperation.

 

[swinske]

I actually got up and went to church. Now that's desperation.

I am freaking................... This reaally bad.............. I do nt have the energy to go for fellowship again.............................This is pretty bad..... 🙁 . I wish I can fast forward the time....................

 

[signomi]

Swinske you applied before right? Did you try to scramble?

 

[swinske]

Swinske you applied before right? Did you try to scramble?

Finally!!!!!!!!! Matched..................... to West Penn Hospital. To your answer last year I did try to scramble. unsuccessful..........

 

[ursus]

Matched at Wayne State 👍

 

[vrgk]

Finally matched.
This forum was very useful.
Thanks to all.
vrgk

 

[BMT]

Great Matched. I was on MICU rounds. Had a freaking day. Intubated two before rounds due to resp distress..... Had 4 admissions...... Ate lunch at 4pm and still rounding at 6pm..... with no signs of leaving tonite to party...
Matched at FHCRC-Univ Washington, Seattle. Hey where did all you guys match? I wanna to know if any of you guys would be working with me!!!!
probably will meet you in ASCO or ASH or bloody hell Hawaii. 😀

 

[chemo-man]

Hello Guys,

Finally the wait is over, matched at Stanford 🙂))). Anybody else heading there??

 

[bp0605]

Hi, I'm a second year who didn't match. Fill depressed 👎
Did you guys apply to the same programs where you've already had interviews for the first time? Did you get the second chance?
Any additional advices? I got an interviews and I think I did ok. I didn't do any past or present hem-onc research.
I don't even know if to apply again...

 

[hemeonc]

matched at univ hosp of cleveland

 

[slyfoxlillian]

Matched at UAMS.... Anyone going there!! 😀

 

[HemonC]

For anyone who have been matched, have you got contact from your program already?

 

[HDMTX]

For anyone who have been matched, have you got contact from your program already?

Yep, same day I matched.. complete schedule through 2010.

 

[docindi1]

Hi, congratulations to those who have matched. It would be a great help to those who are applying/reapplying next year if you would share your views about what you think get you interviews and fellowships. Please let me/us know how you would prioritize the following factors helped in this match----research, hem/onc lor, PD lors, residency program, anything else. 🙂

 

[MidwestMD]

Congrats to everyone who matched in Heme/Onc this yr!

Now that you've been through the whole process, I was just wondering what programs you all felt were top programs? Aside from copying and pasting the dubious "US News & World Report" rankings and excluding the obvious programs like MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering, Dana Farber, Hopkins, and The "Hutch," I'm pretty oblivious to what are considered top notch programs (particularly in the East Coast and Midwest).

I'm definitely interested in Academia but have a weak (read: non-existant) research background. Probably leaning more towards Onc but am open to Heme. ANY advice would be appreciated!

 

[BMT]

Hey this forum is dying.... Good to see some new BLOOD in this forum- After all we are H-Onkers - Cheerio Docindi1 and midwestMD-welcome into the fold..
As to get good interviews-
1) You need strong LORs from PD, chairman and from your Head of HemOnc. Each should state that you are possibly the best in your univ for that title of hemonc fellow. If you could get one of them to actually call or write an email to the fellowship PD, you are landed... But thats tough. They will try to avoid that task, even if they dont mind going that extra mile. Mainly becoz they themselves should have a high academic standing to call another of stature!!!!
2) You need very strong research. First authorship is a necessity. Having your name down there.... in the middle means that you just licked the senior authors A*s.
3) You ought to have a strong inclination right from the start of med school that you were interested in nothing else. Tailor make your SOP.
4) Do your home work. Call and write to programs NOW. well before the ERAS opens on Dec1st. They should already know you are applying. There are a few programs like Baylor, Drexel etc that are out of the ERAS system and have their own forms. UCLA wants their own forms filled in addition to ERAS and also for their STAR program.
5) Your SOP- start on it NOW and chew on it and make it REAL GOOD. It should be the bait and you WILL get the big fish Chewing!!!

There are lots more of tips but I guess I could go on.....

As for the the good programs.... A lot of programs have good clinical stuff,; You have to ask if you really want to be in academics and after 3 years run off to florida and start a booming practice. Becoz then you are wasting time.... Try for Medical Onc only- 2 years and then you are done.
Also for those who did not match- try for heme ONLY its easier to get in. 2 years down- try again for Onc or Hem-onc and you stand a great chance in a top institution. There are always different routes to the top.
Midwest-Minnesota, Wisconsin, WashU, U Michigan, Cleveland clinic are all pretty good and competitive
NE- Univ of North Carolina, Chapell Hill, Pittsburg are also top

Hope this helps....
Just want to say that presenting in ACP meetings- state and national, winning awards for posters, papers, carry a lot of weight in the real world. As also becoming Chief resident- though this is not as important.

Cheers to all you guys in the wings. Hoping to work with some of you in the future.

BMT 🙂

 

[signomi]

Well, I am doing the application cycle for 2008. I didn't match to the only program I applied to for 2007. I found out after the fact that they don't take locals unless they did their residency locally. Don't whine to me about people fleeing this area and then don't take the locals who are deeply invested in remaining here. [/rant]

So I am applying to about 31 programs across the eastern US. I hate to leave my elderly mother alone here, but she doesn't want to move since she has never lived anywhere else. So east coast only. Any recommendations of decent mid-level east coast programs? I don't think I am a competitive applicant since I am a few years out of residency. I cannot get a heme-onc letter since I am out of residency and I don't work with any. I did primary care for awhile and then abandoned that sinking ship for hospitalist medicine.
Anyway, my CAF/CV is done at ERAS and I have my 3 LORs in route to EFDO. Any tips on what else to submit? I am getting my med school transcripts and a certified copy of my med school diploma. I am not applying anywhere that requires a Dean's Letter. (Mine was written by a doc in his 80s who was 98% senile and literally wrote that he had no idea who I was. I was only at the med school for about 20 months.)

I am writing my PS. So far it seems they want us to address: why heme-onc, career goals, research experience and research interest. Anything else I am missing?
Anyone else want to crawl out of the woodwork and start discussing their applications?

 

[spyrogyra1]

MY PS alone must have got me two straight interviews.
It was a 'tear jerking' scene straight out of a TB ward in India" while I thought it was really corny when I wrote it, it actually caught people's attention.
Try that champ.
GL

 

[sanfilippo]

As HDMTX knows, I scrambled into a spot at a comprehensive cancer center, which was my main goal, and I am doing what I want to do with my life...hem/onc is my passion and I cannot think of doing anything else. I think that research is the key aspect my CV was lacking and it's hard because even at a decent residency program, the opportunities here are not easy to come by. You have to be very aggressive to find them and build them up. The other negative is that I was very candid that I wanted to ensure I was picking the right subspecialty, so that it took me longer (i.e., early PG2 year) to decide on my career path. some of us are "late bloomers," but those who know that they want hem/on during their intern year are at an advantage when it comes to seeking out and arranging "scholarly projects" to work on because they'll have more time to devote to them and reap the rewards.

I am just glad I don't have to reapply. There will be more internal candidates from my residency program next year and funding will limit the number of onc fellowship positions for 2008 per the fellowship PD. Hem/onc is becoming increasingly competitive. I think IM programs need to realize this and start "grooming" their residents for the competitive milieu that is now the application and interview process for hem/onc fellowship positions.

BTW, I interviewed at Wash U for their scramble spot and I can tell you that the PD was open about why they did not fill: they thought they could fill all 6 spots with having ranked just 13 candidates. I think many places (and candidates, for that matter) underestimated the effects of the Match process. From that standpoint, it should be better for the 2008 season.
Good luck!
--S.

 

[clueless1]

Anyone know of any programs that required Step3 prior to applying? I thought I saw somewhere that UCLA wanted you to have Step 3 on the books before applying. Thanks for all the great info during your interviews - I look forward to following in your footsteps!

 

[germanIMG]

Congrats to everyone who matched in Heme/Onc this yr!

Now that you've been through the whole process, I was just wondering what programs you all felt were top programs? Aside from copying and pasting the dubious "US News & World Report" rankings and excluding the obvious programs like MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering, Dana Farber, Hopkins, and The "Hutch," I'm pretty oblivious to what are considered top notch programs (particularly in the East Coast and Midwest).

I'm definitely interested in Academia but have a weak (read: non-existant) research background. Probably leaning more towards Onc but am open to Heme. ANY advice would be appreciated!

there is no such think as a true fellowship ranking, mainly as fellowship is the transition period between residency and the real world, an thus various future professional pathways will impact what would be the best fit for you...

there is heme vs onc vs hem malig. vs solid vs BMT
practice vs academia
small practice vs group practice
clinical research vs basic research
basic research vs translational

and so on....

to give an overview on those programs on the east that I know of...

dana farber: largest research universe inc MIT and all Harvard labs, clinical training at MGH and Brigham, tailored towards basic research, not nessesary a place for excellent clinical trainng or clininical research, but obviously absolute top...really only a shot if you are a resident at MGH or Brigham or have an PhD or at least SIGNIFICANT research..i.e multiple 1st author

BI: entirely outpt training, no floor coverage, good clinical training, decent research, but only with BI faculty, which is somewhat limited, excellent signal transduction group...mostly recruits BI residents, the deal for people who have to stay in Boston but don't get in DANA FArber..which kind of has an impact on atmosphere...you will get excellent training there though

Yale: excellent research opportunities, for some reason total disconnect from fellowship program, no mentoring at this point, broad clinical exposure inc VA, will expand with new cancer center, will become more competitive, at this point not competitive, but probably under rated, better for heme than onc at this point

Cornell: strong heme and heme malignancy, small program, no solids, can do research at rockefeller or MSKCC, thus a backdoor deal, if you want to work with someone at these places..otherwise there are many better places

MSKCC: together with MD Anderson the place to train if you are interested in clinical research, no heme, as a matter of fact they will make its almost impossible to double board...training with absolut world leaders, maybe a bit too private, almost all referal, no good translational research at this point, but also excellent basic research opportunities at rockefeller...one of the most competitive places

Columbia: in disarray at this point, with no chairman, however, excellent department with good research, 2nd best in NY, otherwise there are many better places half as competitive as they are not in NY

UPenn: excellent research, top 3 in that regard, clinical referal base smaller, limited in clinical research, but offers great opportunities for MS at Upenn for clinical investifation. will open huge outpatient pavilln in 2008 which will impact patinet flow significantly, aggresively expanding. excellent BMT, academically one of the best, integrated clinical training in heme and onc, absolut top for heme, possible interaction with CHOP and peds heme/Onc if interested

Fox Chase: hard core clinical, maybe the best clinical training you can get...some very well regarded faculty, 1 year at Fox Chase, 1 year at Temple...integrated training hem/onc, somewhat researchwise limited, almost no interaction of research opportunities and fellowship, and almost no time either as 2 years clinical training minimum..best place to go if private practise is your cup of tea

Johns Hopkins: excellent research, top3, excellent clinical training, best at any of the large academic centers, strong interaction with NIH. in my eyes the best training program in the country..but Baltimore...huh ;-)

NIH: lost a lot of reputation as a training program, can not recommend unless strong academic interest in either basic research or clinical study conduct and no interest in clinical training



a somewhat random ranking of the east coast in tiers ..obviously this is not comprehensive at all

dana farber, MSKCC, JOhns Hopkins, Penn

BI, Cornell, Columbia

Yale, Mt Sinai, Fox Chase, U Maryland

NYU, Albert Einstein, Jefferson,

RWJ, Tufts, dartmouth, BU

 

[suredoc90]

Hi,
I am one of the 3rd year IM resdinents to finish my reidency in july, 07
Kind of lately decided to pursue hem-onc

I know i dont have much chance as graduating from community program and no publications.

I am looking for a job which offers me decent money to support my family and also helps in achieving the fellowship i wanted
and place is not a restrction, any state in USA is ok

I am on H1 Bvisa.

any ideas greatly appreciated

 

[Major0909]

hey GermanIMG- fantastic stuff in that post!

I was wondering if others had more opinions to add along the same lines of germanimg's post

i'm mostly curious as to how you guys balanced the clinical/academic aspect of the different programs in your decisions

At this point I wish to puruse a career as a practicing Hem/Onc in private practice so I'd really like to hear about those programs that would be best suited for that type of training; everything I've heard seems to indicate that the most "prestigious" fellowships probably aren't going to suit me the best down the road

 

[spyrogyra1]

HIB is the mark of the devil when it comes to fellowships- very few decent program sponsor the visa.
You live and you learn- I really wish I was on J1 right from the beginining
gl

 

[clueless1]

germanIMG - always informative posts. Appreciate the time you take to get us the info. As I will be applying this year, and find myself leaning more towards basic research (1 first author, a couple of secondary authorships), I wonder if the top programs really are only interested in MD-PhDs? Kind of a bummer, because I do have plenty of lab experience and genuinely see myself as a researcher, but can't seem to cover the fact that I don't have the PhD....Thoughts on top research programs taking non-PhDs?

 

[hemegirl]

Hi,

congratulation to every one who matched this year. I am applying as a PGY 2 this year. I am in a community program that does have some heme-onc positions. I have almost non existent research but I have trained for some time in Gyn-onc I am not sure if that would be helpful. I am looking for programs in east coast . I would like to be in setting of clinical training and clinical research. I dont visualize myself as a completely academic researcher or basic sciences researcher.I will really appreciate any pointers that anyone may have. Most important,I will need a visa J1.

Thanks

 

[germanIMG]

germanIMG - always informative posts. Appreciate the time you take to get us the info. As I will be applying this year, and find myself leaning more towards basic research (1 first author, a couple of secondary authorships), I wonder if the top programs really are only interested in MD-PhDs? Kind of a bummer, because I do have plenty of lab experience and genuinely see myself as a researcher, but can't seem to cover the fact that I don't have the PhD....Thoughts on top research programs taking non-PhDs?

not true, a documented interest in research will suffice for most programs if not all. Dana Farber has about 50% MD PhDs, that is probably the highest rate, Sloan has maybe 30-40%, which is probably the norm for most of the top programs...you will find that there are less applicants with a strong interest in basic science then in clinical pathway.Thus, if you can make a plausible case, you will be an attractive candidate

 

[NEMC]

not true, a documented interest in research will suffice for most programs if not all. Dana Farber has about 50% MD PhDs, that is probably the highest rate, Sloan has maybe 30-40%, which is probably the norm for most of the top programs...you will find that there are less applicants with a strong interest in basic science then in clinical pathway.Thus, if you can make a plausible case, you will be an attractive candidate

Woe, germanIMG, you really did a lot of homework with these programs! Thanks for sharing. I am PGY2 and considering east coast too, Had a a ouplf of friends in John Hopkins and from what they feedback, too much academics for me. I did have some research background but interested in it. And I am not aiming for the first tier.. some more questions:
Do you know what U maryland goot at? How about Brown/RWMC program (heard that is more clinic based)? heard the hospitals in DC area GW, georgetown somewhat malignant? Are you familiar with these programs? Thanks

 

[cyberdoc2]

not true, a documented interest in research will suffice for most programs if not all. Dana Farber has about 50% MD PhDs, that is probably the highest rate, Sloan has maybe 30-40%, which is probably the norm for most of the top programs...you will find that there are less applicants with a strong interest in basic science then in clinical pathway.Thus, if you can make a plausible case, you will be an attractive candidate

germanIMG, Thanks for the wonderful info. Do you know which top programs (sloan, Dana Farber, or Hopkins) accept applicants with H-1 or pending green card? Do you know any IMG in Sloan? Thanks.

 

[germanIMG]

germanIMG, Thanks for the wonderful info. Do you know which top programs (sloan, Dana Farber, or Hopkins) accept applicants with H-1 or pending green card? Do you know any IMG in Sloan? Thanks.

from my experience last interview season: at this level there is no bias against IMG. If you get invited, they are serious about you. there were 2 IMG from my program (incl me) who applied for hem/Onc, and both basically were in the position to choose the place they wanted to train at. That would include Sloan and the Farber.

re U maryland or Brown...I can't comment on these places, did not even apply there...those places I commented on where the places I interviewed at, thus I am able to provide some insight

 

[cyberdoc2]

from my experience last interview season: at this level there is no bias against IMG. If you get invited, they are serious about you. there were 2 IMG from my program (incl me) who applied for hem/Onc, and both basically were in the position to choose the place they wanted to train at. That would include Sloan and the Farber.

re U maryland or Brown...I can't comment on these places, did not even apply there...those places I commented on where the places I interviewed at, thus I am able to provide some insight

Thanks again for your input, germanIMG. Do you know if they accept applicants without green card? I have GC pending I-485.

 

[BMT]

Yes, you can safely get a bunch of interviews and also in the best places. The only hassle is that for the purpose of grants, most research programs require their fellows to be perm residents or citizens. The community programs or those without much research do not have that requirement and IMGs get into them easily even on J1 visas. 😉 BMT

 

[clueless1]

from my experience last interview season: at this level there is no bias against IMG. If you get invited, they are serious about you. there were 2 IMG from my program (incl me) who applied for hem/Onc, and both basically were in the position to choose the place they wanted to train at. That would include Sloan and the Farber.

re U maryland or Brown...I can't comment on these places, did not even apply there...those places I commented on where the places I interviewed at, thus I am able to provide some insight

True enough, I'm sure (Herr Doktor DeutscherIMG always seems to speak the truth), but keep in mind germanIMG had impeccable academic credentials (PhD, if I remember correctly) and multiple publications. That's why he interviewed at all the top programs.

germanIMG, you mentioned "making a plausible case" in your reply to my prior lament re: non-PhD bench research oriented applicants like myself...I'm not quite sure how I'm supposed to do that, other than just be honest and tell people (but doesn't everyone say they're interested in research?)...

 

[lanziii]

would May be too late?

 

[germanIMG]

to Herr Ahnungslos: people will tell all kind of things during the interview, yet all programs lament the fact that a significant number of fellows later on decide to leav academia and go into practice...while there are laways reasons at a later stage to change your mind, not the least monetary aspects, the underlying theme was: we have been fooled.
so what you would have to convey to your interview partner is: a) obvious bench research experience, optimally beyond the little college flirt. Maybe even some amount of independent research, but not nessesary a PhD.
b) a clear concept what bench research and an academic carrer will mean, incl the obstacles re grants, time restraints and time commitment, especially in the early years.
c) a clear idea of what it is you want to do, with whom in that particular institution, why and what the end-goal is....this all should be realistic.
So don't name the nobel laureate at that institution if you only have seen a pipette but never actually touched it.
d) most important: enthusiasm.....if they see your fire burning, you are all set

good luck

 

[clueless1]

to Herr Ahnungslos: people will tell all kind of things during the interview, yet all programs lament the fact that a significant number of fellows later on decide to leav academia and go into practice...while there are laways reasons at a later stage to change your mind, not the least monetary aspects, the underlying theme was: we have been fooled.
so what you would have to convey to your interview partner is: a) obvious bench research experience, optimally beyond the little college flirt. Maybe even some amount of independent research, but not nessesary a PhD.
b) a clear concept what bench research and an academic carrer will mean, incl the obstacles re grants, time restraints and time commitment, especially in the early years.
c) a clear idea of what it is you want to do, with whom in that particular institution, why and what the end-goal is....this all should be realistic.
So don't name the nobel laureate at that institution if you only have seen a pipette but never actually touched it.
d) most important: enthusiasm.....if they see your fire burning, you are all set

good luck

LL (Laut Lachend)....Thanks, img - you are always very generous sharing your advice/experience. If what you say is true (and you've never steered anyone wrong before), I feel a lot better about the whole thing. What you say makes a lot of sense - I always secretly hope interviewers can tell the sincere from the insincere, and this gives me faith that they can.

Hopefully, the interview process will be more streamlined this year, what with almost all programs going ERAS this year...I've heard through the grapevine last year was a cluster-f&*#!

 

[rack]

hey guys, im just a lowly om1 but ive had an interest in hemeonc since i knew what it was like midcollege. i was wondering if anyone had any tips or guidance as to what i should do during my medical school years to optimize my chances of landing a fellowship in the northeast. i currently goto school in florida, but would like to end up somewhere in the tristate if possible.

in college, i worked in a cancer research lab at rutgers u and got my name on 3 or 4 pubs related to clinical cancer research. i was not 1st or 2nd on any of these, but worked at the lab for 2.5-3 years and got a good deal of experience.

well, to start, im wondering what kinda IM residency i should even look into. as an osteopathic medical student, i have great interest in acquiring an osteopathic residency in internal medicine if possible. would such a residency lower my chances at heme/onc because of limited contacts that can be made in the field? id like to incorporate some osteopathic philosophies into my heme/onc practice, but im sure theres many limitations to my ideals.
locationswise if i wanna stay in the northeast, obviously i should apply to IM in that area right? Are there certain programs that would improve my chances in matching to a hemeonc fellowship? any institutions to avoid?

for the med school part, im aware i should be studying hard, learning how to become a great doc, and working my ass off in clerkships. any other advice? im gonna try to get advice from the IM chair or faculty at my school, but somehow i dont think theyll be of too much help. should i take a year off to do research in some recognized heme onc lab? im not really interested in academia; i want to practice more than anything.

ive been pretty lackadaisical in college, but this is my "jedi training school" and my interests and passion lie in medicine.

i know im thinking WAY too ahead here, but any advice and/or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

any ideas for what i could do for M1-M2 summer? I only have about 4-5 weeks becuase my school is sucky so research would be HIGHLY unlikely. Maybe something clinical related for firstyear med students? Im researching around and found nothing much so far.

Thanks a lot for your time guys. Congrats to all who matched; i hope to be there within the next 8 years =)

 

[OCM]

Hello all!
I will be applying this year and would like to know when do most interviews take place?
thanks

 

[slyfoxlillian]

Dec thru april